Infographic: Selective Autophagy

Feb 28, 2018

Vikramjit Lahiri and Daniel J. Klionsky

In contrast to nonselective autophagy, which digests various cellular cargos randomly, selective versions of this process can target specific molecules, organelles, or even whole organisms for degradation. For example, during the maturation of oxygen-transporting red blood cells called erythrocytes, a selective form of autophagy known as mitophagy eliminates most mitochondria from precursor cells called reticulocytes. Another type of selective autophagy, called xenophagy, involves the targeted digestion of bacterial pathogens.